It is likely Watsonville boxer Carina Moreno's next fight would have taken place out of state -- perhaps even out of the country, like four of her previous six bouts have been.

But after signing a three-fight contract with Arizona's Zeferino Entertainment last week, the 31-year-old champion has proper representation for the first time since 2010, and it could translate into fighting closer to home.

At the very least, Moreno is hoping trips to Argentina, Mexico and, most recently, Germany are no more.

"I'm very excited. It's been really hard for me not having a promoter. I'm stoked about this opportunity," said Moreno, who traveled to Germany earlier this month and won the World Boxing Association's flyweight title.

Moreno (23-5-0) has been without a proper promoter since her contract with the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore ended. Since then, she's had to take on fights in other countries against fighters in higher weight classes -- some ending in controversial decisions.

Her most recent trip to Mexico ended with a unanimous decision loss to Irma Sanchez, a fight Moreno very much believed she had won.

"This is why we've been 'Road Warriors,'" said Rick Noble, Moreno's trainer who also acted as her promoter in recent years.

"I finally get to take one of my hats off," he added.

Noble said finding fights at Moreno's preferred weight classes of 105 and 108 pounds was impossible to come by -- a stark contrast to the "handful of offers" they would receive at 112 and 115 pounds.

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Moreno was considered a heavy underdog in her last fight, when she traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany and earned a split-decision victory against Susi Kentikian at 112 pounds -- in Kentikian's home country, no less. It was a shock to some in the boxing world.

Moreno won the WBA flyweight title in the process, her fifth career belt in a third weight class.

"They're not bringing you in to win," Noble said. "They're bringing you in to lose."

That should change with Zeferino Entertainment, which, according to its website, represents seven other boxers -- all male.

The promotion will provide leverage for Moreno when negotiating a bout. She said it will also better ensure that fights won't fall through at the last moment, which was the case just a few months ago for the Watsonville fighter.

The stress level for both Moreno and Noble preceding a bout should be reduced as well.

"Now I don't have to worry about it," she said. "It definitely put a lot of stress on us."

Moreno's next fight is expected to be a rematch against Kentikian, possibly in late March or early April. Moreno continues to rehab her left knee in the meantime, which she aggravated during her fight in Germany on Dec. 1.

Up until last week, though, any sort of rematch would have likely taken place in Germany. But Noble said in the upcoming weeks Zeferino Entertainment and Sturm Promotions, which represents Kentikian, will submit closed bids regarding the fight's location.

If all goes to plan, Moreno could be again fighting in California.

"We have an opportunity to come home and, obviously, we want to come home," Noble said.